Scottish Executive

Environment

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public safety, health and environmental monitoring it undertakes in connection with radioactive waste stored at the Rosyth and Faslane naval bases and the nuclear installations at Dounreay and Chapelcross and whether any such monitoring varies according to the amount of intermediate and low level radioactive waste stored at these locations.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive does not undertake monitoring of radioactive waste. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), however, undertakes a programme of environmental monitoring around nuclear sites. The monitoring is undertaken according to the nature and quantity of radioactivity discharged from nuclear sites. The detail of that programme is a matter for SEPA. I understand that the programme is reviewed on a regular basis and takes account of all relevant circumstances.

  The results of the monitoring programme are published annually in Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE). A copy of the latest RIFE report is available in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. no.14600). That report contains an assessment of public dose around all nuclear sites.

Environment

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government concerning the public safety, health and environmental implications of the storage of radioactive waste at the Rosyth naval base.

Rhona Brankin: No such representations have been made. Responsibility for the storage of radioactive waste is a matter for the site operator and the regulatory bodies.